As school buses circled the parking lot at Bogue Sound Elementary School Wednesday, the drivers took a front seat in more ways than one.

JANNETTE PIPPIN - Daily News Staff

CARTERET COUNTY — As school buses circled the parking lot at Bogue Sound Elementary School Wednesday, the drivers took a front seat in more ways than one.

The Carteret County Public Schools Bus Rodeo put their driving skills to the test and also highlighted the important role bus drivers play in the school system.

“The school is a team, and our bus drivers are an important part of that team,” said school board member June Fulcher. “They are the first person our students see in the morning, and they are responsible for our kids.”

Fulcher drove a bus as a high school student and took a turn at the wheel of one of buses for the first time since then.

“It was scary after all these years. It’s all different,” she said noting that today’s buses are automatic and have power steering.

She left the obstacle course to the other drivers. The 25 participants in the school district’s bus rodeo completed a course that included six stations that judged them in skills such as parallel parking, backing, stopping, turns and avoiding obstructions.

Amanda Willis of Morehead City, who has driven a bus for Carteret Preschool Center for two years, took first place in the event and will advance to the district competition.

Willis felt good about her performance but was surprised to come away with the top place.

“It’s awesome. I didn’t expect it because there was a lot of good competition out here,” she said.

Kenneth Willis, a driver for Newport Middle School, took second; and Jessica Gibson, who has driven for seven years for Bogue Sound Elementary, came away with third place.

Gibson said driving the bus is an opportunity to interact with students of all ages at the school, something that hasn’t always been possible in the classroom.

The school system’s bus drivers work as teacher assistants at the schools.

Gibson was excited to share the news of her performance with her grandfather, who was also a bus driver.

While the competition tested their skills, the participants saw the event as a time of fellowship and a celebration of the important task they take on each school day: transporting students to and from school.

“I’m excited,” said Joleen Signorelli of Bogue Sound Elementary School while waiting her turn to drive. “I think it really boosts the morale for the bus driver, and it means a lot for all of us to get together.”

Carteret County Schools Transportation Director Lloyd Willis said the school system has done bus rodeos in the past but had not for several years and decided to bring back the event.

“It’s a fun day for the drivers. It gives them an opportunity to get out of the classroom and spend some time together and also highlights the important job they do,” he said.

Beaufort Elementary School Assistant Principal Sherrill Moraven showed up with several bus drivers from her school to show their support for the three drivers they had participating in the competition. They held up a banner reading “We Love Our BES Bus Drivers.”

Sherry Tosto, who has been a bus driver for the school for 31 years, participated in bus rodeo in the 1980s but returned this year to show her support.

“We’re here to cheer them on,” she said.

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Participating in the Carteret County Public Schools Bus Rodeo were:

Barbara Anderson: works at Morehead City Elementary; drives for Morehead Middle

Kim Clarke: works at Morehead City Elementary; drives for Morehead Middle